Lali
لالی

Lali follows Zeba, a young woman married to Sajawal in a traditional Pakistani wedding. What begins as a joyful celebration quickly spirals into chaos when the groom’s mother is accidentally shot during the festivities. Though the injury is minor, it sparks rumors around Zeba—whose three previous suitors all died under mysterious circumstances—possesses dangerous powers, casting a shadow over Sajawal’s safety. Their marriage becomes a volatile terrain where affection, desire, jealousy, distrust, and resentment coexist, as the immature husband and his wife navigate the emotional turbulence within their small house and yard.

While the film vividly evokes the colors, music, architecture, and energy of its Pakistani setting, it avoids reducing the culture to mere spectacle. The director focuses on flawed, scarred characters whose raw, carnal bonds often outweigh social and familial expectations. In this rare dark comedy from Pakistan, Lali portrays the union of a man and a woman as a complex web of power dynamics, using a sharp and engaging tone to reveal how tensions escalate in intimacy and how violence can seep into a relationship.

SARMAD SULTAN KHOOSAT
Born in Lahore and trained in psychology, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat’s work explores identity, emotion, and social complexity across film, television, and theatre. He was one of the producers of Joyland (2022), which made history as Pakistan’s first official selection at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the Jury Prize in Un Certain Regard. His earlier film Zindagi Tamasha (2019) premiered at Busan, where it won the Kim Jiseok Award and chosen as the Pakistan’s entry for Best International Film at the Academy Awards, while Kamli (2022) premiered at Rotterdam. His latest film Lali premiered at Berlinale Panorama 2026.

Sat Apr 25, 2026 | 16:00
Stadtkino
Red Lotus 2026

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Pakistan 2026
116 Min | Color | Punjabi with English subtitles

Directed by Sarmad Sultan KHOOSAT

Lali © Luminalia Film